Rural letter-carrier&#39;s all-metal cabinet.



W. T. SMITH. RURAL LETTER GARRIBRS ALL METAL CABINET. APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 24, 1911.

5- fi WITNESSES j .5 IIWENTOR z M107 75/ 1/ 771 Q45; 7

mob/vars Patented Oct. 10,1911.

WILLIAM rfs ur'rn, or 'TUNNE'LT N, INDIANA.

RURAL LETTER-CARRIERS ALLMErAt'cABINEr.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed 311110324, 1911. Serial'No; 635,138.

To all whom itmay concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tunnelton, in the county of Lawrence, State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rural Letter-Carriers All-Metal Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in rural letter carriers all metal cabinets, and consists in certain novel constructions and com-- binations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspec tive View of the improvement in one position; Fig. 2'is a similar view with the .boxin another position; and Fig. 3 is a partial side View, a part of the box being broken away.

In the present embodiment of the invention a box 1 is provided, substantially rectangular in cross section, the rear face 2 being inclined inward from the bottom to the top, and the upper portion of the said face is also offset inwardly, as indicated at 3, or with slight variation from upper rear face 2 to 5 hinge corner. A cover 4 is hinged to the upper-edge of the said rear face, as indicated at 5 and the said cover is laterally flanged/at its free edges, as indicated at 6. A handle 7 is hinged to the front of the box, and a perforated lug 8.is secured to the bot tom of thebox directly beneath the handle.

I The lower edge of the inclined portion of the-rear face is superposed flat on the bottom for a short distance, as shown in Fig. 3, to form an outwardly extending rib or ledge 9 at the junction oft-he said port-ion with the bottom. The box is also provided at the lower edges of its sides and at the center of the said sides with outwardly extending journal pins 10.

A rod 11 is arranged transversely of the box near the upper edges of the sides and adjacent to the rear face, and the said rod is provided at each end with an angular arm 12. Each of the said arms is of resilient material and is doubled back upon itself near its free end, and a coil 13 is. interposedbetween the arm pro er. and the doubled portion '14. Each 0 the ortions 1A is so dered-at 15 to the inner ace of the cover near the adjacent end of'the cover.

ail-he 'rod'll is held in place by pins 16, each of which has its outer end recelved in an opening in the adjacent end wall of thebox,

letters 21.

The box is separated into a plurality of into alinement with each other.

and the inner end of the pin is bent upon itself to form a plurality of coils 17 enc rcling the adjacent end of the rod. A pocket is connected to the inner face of'the cover between ends' 15, the said coverbeing formed from a plate 18 having its ends offset laterally at- 19 and secured to the cover by rivets 20. The pocket is designated to hold compartments by a transverse partition 22 and by partitions 23 at right angles to. partition 22. The ends of the partition 22 are bent laterally parallel with partitions 23, as indicated at 24:, and fit against the ends of the box.

The box is supported on the dash board and floor 25 of the carriers wagon. A strap 27 is secured transversely of each end of the base plate by screws 28, and the rear end of the strap is bent upwardly to form an upright 29. The front edge of each strap is bent upwardly and given a quarter turn to form a double lug 30, and the lugs are transversely perforated. A bar 31 ishinged to each lug by an angular threaded stem 32 on the lower end of a link 33. The stem passes.

by a nut 34:. The bars 31 are connected near their upper ends by a rod 35, and the free end of each arm is provided with a laterally inclined lug 36 having a slot 37 inclining inwardly and downwardly. The slots 37 are engaged by the journal pins 10 before mentioned. The upper end of each upright 29 is given a. quarter turn, as indicated at 38, and a rod 39 connect-s the upper ends of the uprights. Each upright is connected to the adjacent bar 31, by a species of toggle lever, consisting of two members or sections 40 and 41. e The outer end of the sectional is pivotedon the rod 39 between the rod 33 and the upright, and the outer end of the Patented 0 15.10, 1911.,

of the bar 3l.

' The connection between the sections 40 and 41 is a rule joint, permitting the connected ends to move freely upward, but preventing further downward movement: than The sections are pivoted together at 43, and the section 40 has its pivoted-end offset laterally inward adjacent to the connection. The connecting portion between the body of the section and the offset portion is transversely ner and, in fact, are springs to lift the lid a look, if desired.

at one end to the upright, the sections being- -ward, a link detachably connected, with the slotted or notched at 45, and the section 40 is extended beyond the pivotal connection 43, forming :1 lug 4.4 for engaging the notch 45. A substantially U-shaped link has its body 4E6 engaged with a notch t? in the upper edge of the section 40, and the extremity of each arm 48 is provided with a hook i9 for engaging a pin 50 on the section etl.

The box normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1'. hen in such position, the toggle levers l0tl) are held in broken position by the U-shaped link et6 l8. The rods 35 and 39 clamp the box in this position, holding the cover tightly closed on the box. To open the box, the body 46 of the link is lifted out of the notch LT and the toggle lovers are straightened, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring 51 is connected at one end to the lug 8 before mentioned, and at the other to an eye 52 at the rear of the base plate 25. As soon as the toggles are straightened, the spring 51 draws the box into a horizontal position, the box swing ing on the journal pins 10. The box is limited in its downward swing by the engagement of the rib or ledge 9 with the rod 39, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 8. The said rod holds the box in horizontal position and the toggle levers are of such length that they will be aline'd when the box is in this position. The arms l2 1314: act in the manor cover. The pocket is, as before stated, designed for letters, while the compartments are for papers and packages. It will be noticed that the slots in the front uprights for receiving the journal pins are inclined toward the front at their upper ends, and the box may be disengaged from its support merely by lifting the pins from the slots.

The box is preferably of galvanized material and may be of any suitable or desired size. The cover may also be held closed by I claim:

1. A mail box comprising a box provided at its rear with an outwardly extending flange, a cover hinged to the top of the box, springs normally holding the cover in open position, a journal pin at each side of the box, a support for the box comprising a base, a rear pair of uprights secured to the base, a front pair of uprights hinged to the base, each of the said last named uprights having a slot at its upper end for receiving the adjacent journal pin, a toggle lever connecting the adjacent front and rear uprights, each, of the toggles comprising a-plurality of sections, each section being pivoted.

connected at the other end by a' rule joint, permitting the sections to move freely upsections of each toggle for holding the toggle in broken condition, a sprin ar ranged between the base and the front of the box and normally pressing the front end of the said box downward, and a rod connecting the rear upright for engagement by the flange to hold the box horizontal.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a mail box, a cover hinged to the box for closing the same, a spring acting normally to press the cover open, and means for supporting the box for swinging movement into horizontal or vertical position and for clamping the cover to the box when in vertical position, said means comprising a base, a pair of rear uprights secured to the base, a pair of front uprights hinged to the base for swinging movement toward and from the rear uprights, the box being pivoted between the front uprights, a rod connectmg each pair of uprights for engaging the cover and bottom of the box when the box is in verticalposition, a spring normally acting to move. the box into horizontal position, means for swinging the front uprights toward and from the rear uprights, said means comprising toggle levers connecting the adjacent front and rear uprights, the members of each of the said levers having a rule joint connection permitting the levers to movefreely upward, and meansfor locking the levers in broken condition with th rods clamped on the box.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a mail box, a cover hinged to the box for closing the same, a spring acting normally to press the cover open, and means for supporting the box for swinging movement into horizontal or vertical position and for clamping the cover to the box when in vertical position, said means. comprising a base, a pair of rear uprights secured to the base, a pair of front uprights hinged to the base for swinging movement toward and from the rear uprights, the box being pivoted between the front uprights, a rod connecting each pair of uprights for. engaging'the cover and bottom of the box when the box is in vertical position, a spring normally acting to move the box into horizontal. posit-ion, means for swinging the front uprigl'its toward and from the rear uprights, said means comprising tog- .ment into horizontal or vertical position and for clamping the cover to the box when in vertical position, said means comprising a base, a pair of rear upright-s secured to the base, a pair of front uprights hingedto the base for swinging movement toward and from the rear uprights, the box being pivoted between the front uprights, a rod wnnect-ing each pair of uprights for en gaging the coverand bottom of the box when the box is in vertical position, a spring normally acting to move the box into horizontal position, means for swinging the front uprights toward and from the rear uprights, means for locking the uprights in adjusted position, and means for limiting the downward swinging movement of the front of the box, said means comprising a flange on the rear face of the box for engaging the rod connecting the rear uprights when-the box is horizontal.

device of the character specified, comprising a mail box, a cover hinged to the box for closing the same, a spring acting normally to press the cover open, and means for supporting the box for swinging movement into horizontal or vertical position and for clamping the cover to the box when in vertical position, said nieans comprising a base, a pair of rear uprights secured to the base, a pair of front uprights hinged to the base for swinging movement toward and from the rear uprights, the box being pivoted between the front uprights, a rod connecting each pair oi. uprights for engaging the cover and bottom of the box when the box is in vertical position, a spring normally acting to move the box into horizontal position, means for swinging the front uprights toward and from the rear uprights, means for locking the uprights in adjusted position, and means for limiting the clownward swinging movement of the front of the box. V

6. A device of the character specified, comprising a mail box, a cover hinged to :the box for closing the same, a spring acting normally to press the cover open, and means for supporting the box for swinging movement into horizontal or vertical position and for clamping the cover to the box when in vertical position, said means comprising a base, a pair of rear uprights secured to the base, a pair of front uprights hinged to the base for swinging movement toward and from the rear uprights, the box being pivotedbetween the front uprights, a rod connecting each pair of uprights for engaging the cover and bottom of the box when the box is in vertical position, a spring normally acting to move the box into horlzontal position, means for swinging the front uprights toward and from the rear uprights to clamp the box or release the same, and means for holding the box in horizontal position when released.

7. A device of. the character specified, comprising a mail box, a coverhinged to the box for closing the same, a spring acting normally to press the cover open, and means for supporting the box for swinging movement into horizontal or vertical position and for clamping the cover to thebox when in vertical position, said means comprising a base, a pair of rear uprights secured to the base, a pair of front uprights hinged to the base for swinging movement toward and from the rear uprights, the box being pivoted between the front uprights, a rod connecting each pair of uprights for engaging the cover and bottom of the box when the box is in vertical position, a spring normally acting to move the box into horizontal position, means for swinging the front uprights toward and fromthe rear,

uprights to clamp the box or release the same.

7 8. A device of the character specified, comprising a mail box, a cover hinged to the box for closing the same, a spring actsecured to the base, a pair of front uprights hinged to the base for swinging movementtoward and from the rear uprights, the box i being pivoted between the front uprights, a

rod connecting each pair of uprights for engaging the cover and bottom of the box when the box is in vertical position, means .for swinging the front uprights toward and from the rear uprights, means for swinging the front end of the box downward when released from the uprights, and means for limiting the downward swinging of the box to a horizontal position.

WILLIAM SMITH.

Witnesses:

HOMER INGLE, WVILLIAM H. REED. 

